The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.

collinsego_100@yahoo.fr (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Dear Sir/Madam,
It is obvious that this proposal will come to you as a suprise. This is because we have not met before but i am inspired to sending you this email by the huge fund transfer opportunity that will be of mutual benefit to the two of us.
However, I am Barrister Collins Ego,the personal Attorney to the late Engr.Steve Moore a national of Isle of Man in UK, who used to work with Shell Petroleum Development Company(SPDC) in Nigeria. On the 21st of April 1996, my client,his wife And their three children were involved in a car accident along Sagamu/Lagos Express Road.
Unfortunately they all lost their lives in the event of the ccident,Since then I have made several enquiries to several Embassies to locate any of my clients extended relatives,this has also proved unsuccessful.After these several unsuccessful attempts,I decided to trace his relatives over the Internet to locate any member of hisfamily but of no avail, hence I contacted you.
I contacted you to assist in repartrating the money and property left behind by my client,I can easily convince the bank with my legal practice that you are the only surviving relation of my lient.Otherwise the Estate he left behind will be confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank where this huge deposits were lodged.
Particularly, the Bank where the deceased had an account valued at about $27million U.S dollars(twenty seven million U.S.America dollars).Conseqently,The bank issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have the account confiscated within the next ten official working days.
since i have been unsuccesfull in locating the the relatives for over several years now.I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased,so that the proceeds of this account valued at $27million U.S dollars can be paid to your account and then youand me can share the money. 55%to me and 40% to you,while 5% should be for expenses or tax as your government may require.
I have all necessary legal documents that can be used to back up any claim we may make. All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us see this deal through. I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.Please get in touch with me by my email (collinsego_100@yahoo.fr) to enable us discuss further.
1,Your Name 2,House Address 3,Your Phone/Fax Number 4,Your Age and Gender 5,Your occupation
Yours Faithfully,
Barrister Collins Ego (Esq).